Here’s a look back at the news we covered this week:

The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) has been a persistent advocacy force in 2021 health lobbying, registering more than six times the number of reports logged by other health-related advocacy groups. In a Hill Times Research analysis of the top five most active organizations representing health stakeholders, the CVA landed at the top with 434 reports. Other organizations, including the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, HealthCareCAN and Diabetes Canada were also prominent in their advocacy efforts for the first half of 2021. (Hill Times Research is a sister publication to The Lobby Monitor, which exclusively covers federal health policy.) 

Remote work is “having its toll” on younger consultants, says Summa Strategies president Robin MacLachlan. Almost 17 months into the pandemic, The Lobby Monitor asked lobbyists how their firms were navigating a second COVID-affected summer. While working from home and virtual social events are expected to take place for some time yet, companies are also preparing for what a “new normal” will look like. “Everybody who’s had to change their work processes to Zoom or [Microsoft] Teams is pretty much done with the video conferencing and can hardly wait for the country to come out the other side of this,” says Bluesky Strategy Group vice-president Neil Brodie.

Another event lobbyists are preparing for is the announcement of a federal election, which is expected within weeks now that new Governor General Mary Simon has been sworn in and can dissolve Parliament should Prime Minister Justin Trudeau make the request. Elliot Hughes, a senior adviser at Summa Strategies, thinks the Liberals’ election window is “unlikely to get any brighter” as the incumbents aim for a majority government. While the pandemic is expected to be a key topic during the probable campaign, Seamus Murphy, partner for federal advocacy at Counsel Public Affairs, says cost of living pressures, climate change, and broader health issues are growing areas of concern.

The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) contributed eight of the 96 communication reports filed last week. CCGA, which represents more than 43,000 Canadian canola farmers, was interested in discussing the free trade agreement between Canada and the U.K. The association is represented on the registry by its president and CEO, Rick White. The reports show contact with Ralph Goodale, Canada’s high commissioner to the U.K. on July 19, and Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on July 20. Communications were also logged with Marlo Reynolds, chief of staff to Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, on July 22; and Harry Burton and Emmaleigh Munro, policy advisers to Rural Economic Development Minister Maryam Monsef, on July 21.

In new registrations, the Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security started its first file on July 29 with Ron Soreanu of Clear Strategy. Created in 2016 by Maple Leaf Foods president and CEO, Michael McCain, the not-for-profit is interested in discussing the adoption of targets to reduce food insecurity in Canada. Soreanu will speak to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Agriculture, Employment, Finance, Health, Indigenous Services and Crown-Indigenous Relations.

Also tied to McCain is Daymark Foundation, an organization that will lobby for a national perinatal mental health strategy, as well as better prevention and treatment of perinatal mental health care in Canada. The foundation, whose board includes McCain and members of his family, opened its first file on July 26 with consultants Jaime Charlebois and Patricia Tomasi. Charlebois and Tomasi’s connection to the issue comes from their work as co-founders of Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative. The pair will communicate with the PMO, Health, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Women and Gender Equality, Heritage, and MPs.

Returning to the registry recently is the Government of the Northwest Territories, with Philip Cartwright of Global Public Affairs becoming active on the file on July 20. The territorial government is interested in outreach and engagement with the federal government on issues related to the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework. Cartwright will communicate with the PMO, PCO, Infrastructure, Global Affairs, and Innovation, as well as MPs and senators. 

New registry files

Based on a search of the federal lobbyists' registry on July 30 at 9:00 a.m. ET

New registrations

Reactivations

The Lobby Monitor will not publish on Mon. Aug. 2, due to a civic holiday, but will return to its regular publishing schedule on Tues. Aug. 3. Have a great and safe weekend!